During the war, everyone who remained in this village left the village and went to Mullivaikal as per the army notification. On September 14, 2009, we surrendered to the army. We lived in overcrowded camps and had to stand in queues even for basic needs. We were brought back to Keppapilaw from the camps. Then the army said that our land belongs to them and we should continue to live in the camp. The villagers were against it, but nothing could be done because the army had power. The army forcibly registered us in Suriyapuram.
During the war, there was fear for life, but we lived peacefully and happily. When we see that our land is occupied by the army, our hearts are filled with great sadness. My husband has to work even at the age of 65. If we were able to cultivate our two acres of land and collect the harvest, we would enjoy a retired life at this age. Our land has coconut trees, mango trees and jackfruit trees. The army collects that harvest now. It has been 15 years since the end of the war. If the army had given us our land back, we could have cultivated it.
Half of our life was spent in the war and in the camps. Three months after my eldest daughter got married, her husband disappeared after he surrendered to the army. My daughter became mentally ill after the disappearance of her husband. After everything happened, only our lives are left for us. Since we have nothing more to lose, we started protesting against the government in March 2017.
The army still occupies the lands near the lagoon, which belong to the fishing community and are essential for their livelihood, agricultural lands, and lands which have schools, churches, Hindu temples, cooperatives, stadiums, public wells, community halls, cemeteries etc. The army intimidated and harassed us when we staged demonstrations in front of the camp gate. They didn’t even allow us to get water.
Vivekananthan Indrani
Kepppapilaw, Mullaitivu
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